Multiple Stages Of Fermentation; Multiple Types Of Micro-organisms Or Reuse Of Micro-organisms Patents (Class 435/162)
  • Patent number: 11921476
    Abstract: Systems and methods to provide low carbon intensity (CI) ethanol through one or more targeted reductions of carbon emissions based upon an analysis of carbon emissions associated with a combination of various options for feedstock procurement, feedstock refining, processing, or transformation, and ethanol distribution pathways to end users. Such options are selected to maintain the total CI (carbon emissions per unit energy) of the ethanol below a pre-selected threshold that defines an upper limit of CI for the ethanol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: MARATHON PETROLEUM COMPANY LP
    Inventor: David Whikehart
  • Patent number: 11913060
    Abstract: Methods and solutions are disclosed for the quantification of mixed-linkage beta-glucan in plant biomass samples. Improved alkaline pretreatment, enzymatic hydrolysis, and glucose measurement parameters are provided that increase the accuracy, precision, and sensitivity of mixed-linkage beta-glucan assays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Edeniq, Inc.
    Inventors: Prachand Shrestha, Denmark Antolin
  • Patent number: 11827916
    Abstract: A process is provided for forming a fuel or a fuel intermediate from two fermentations that includes feeding an aqueous solution comprising a fermentation product from a first bioreactor to a second bioreactor and/or a stage upstream of the second bioreactor, which also produces the fermentation product. The aqueous solution may be added at any stage of the second fermentation and/or processing steps upstream from the second bioreactor that would otherwise require the addition of water. Accordingly, the product yield is increased while fresh/treated water usage is decreased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Iogen Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick J. Foody, Brian Foody
  • Patent number: 11772994
    Abstract: The description describes the integration of a gas fermentation process with a gasification process whereby effluent from the gas fermentation process is recycled to the gasification process. The one or more effluents which can be recycled include a stream comprising microbial biomass, a product stream comprising at least a portion of the at least one fermentation product, a by-product stream comprising fusel oil, and a waste water stream comprising microbial biomass. The stream comprising biomass can be dried before it is passed to the gasification zone. At least a portion of the waste water stream can be passed to the gasification process where one use is to replace at least a portion of the process water. The waste water stream can be further processed to produce a clarified water stream and a biogas stream comprising methane either or both of which can be passed to the gasification process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: LanzaTech, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert John Conrado, Allan Haiming Gao
  • Patent number: 11739352
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods and systems of fermenting that include, after the fermentable composition has been exposed to fermentations conditions to produce biochemical, exposing at least a portion of a fermentable composition to a disruption process to disrupt at least a portion of insoluble solid component. After the fermentable composition has been exposed to a disruption process, the fermentable composition can be exposed to fermentation conditions again to product biochemical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: POET Research, Inc.
    Inventors: David Charles Carlson, Brady Christopher Clavel, Katherine Lois Kokes, David D. Bushong, Blake A. Schnell
  • Patent number: 11718863
    Abstract: Improved processes and systems for recovering products from a corn fermentation mash. In some examples, a process recovers an oil product, a protein meal product, and a fiber product from a slurry. A process includes the following steps: introducing the slurry into a device with a flexible screen and mechanical agitation to produce a filtrate and a fibrous solid stream; and introducing the filtrate into a three-phase centrifuge to produce an oil stream, a high protein solids stream, and a water with solubles stream. The flexible screen includes a washing nozzle. The slurry is whole stillage from an ethanol process. The three-phase centrifuge is a three-phase decanter. The filtrate is heated before introducing into the three-phase centrifuge. The filtrate is optionally evaporated before introducing into the three-phase centrifuge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: POET GRAIN (OCTANE), LLC
    Inventor: Jason Bootsma
  • Patent number: 11713474
    Abstract: Processes and systems for recovering products from a fermentation mash. In some examples, a process for recovering products from a fermentation mash can include processing a ground corn product to produce a fermentation mash that can include ethanol. At least a portion of the ethanol can be separated from the fermentation mash to produce a whole stillage. The whole stillage can be separated to produce a fiber rich product and a filtrate. The fiber rich product can be hydrolyzed to produce a saccharification mash. The saccharification mash can be processed to produce additional ethanol and a stillage protein product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: POET GRAIN (OCTANE), LLC
    Inventor: Jason Bootsma
  • Patent number: 11560581
    Abstract: A process for producing cellulolytic and/or hemicellulolytic enzymes with a strain of microorganism belonging to the family of filamentous fungi. The process includes growing the fungi in an aqueous culture medium, in the presence of at least one carbon-based growth substrate, in a stirred and aerated bioreactor. It also includes the production of enzymes, starting with the aqueous culture medium in the presence of at least one inductive carbon-based substrate and also inducing the production of hydrophobins. Further, at least a portion of the hydrophobins produced in step (b) are reintroduced into the growth step (a).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: IFP Energies nouvelles
    Inventors: Mohamed Fadhel Ben Chaabane, Etienne Jourdier, Caroline Aymard, Frederic Augier
  • Patent number: 11519010
    Abstract: Provided is a method which enables efficient separation of a component such as microorganisms from an organic substance-containing liquid obtained by microbial fermentation. Disclosed is a method for producing an organic substance comprising a microbial fermentation step of obtaining an organic substance-containing liquid and a separation step of heating the organic substance-containing liquid and separating into a liquid or solid component containing microorganisms and a gaseous component containing the organic substance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: SEKISUI CHEMICAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Satoshi Shimizu, Kokoro Hamachi
  • Patent number: 11485913
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a process for converting lignocellulosic feedstock (10) to renewable product (80), wherein the process comprises the following steps; treating (100) lignocellulosic feedstock (10) with aqueous solution (20) to obtain a mixture (30); heating (110) the mixture (30) of step (a) to a temperature between 290 and 340° C., under a pressure from 90 to 120 bar, to obtain a first product mix (40); separating aqueous phase (53) and oil phase (50), and optionally gas (51) and solids (52), of the first product mix (40) of step (b); and heating (130) the oil phase (50) of step (c) and solvent (60). The heating (130) is optionally followed by fractionation (200) to obtain a light fraction (90) and a heavy fraction (91) and optionally a bottom residue fraction (92) and/or a gaseous fraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: UPM-KYMMENE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Andrea Gutierrez, Pekka Jokela, Roel Westerhof, Sascha Kersten, Bert Heesink
  • Patent number: 11473086
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides genetically modified plants, plant cells and plant tissues that show reduced lignin content as compared to a control plant which was not genetically modified. In addition, the disclosure provides methods of regulating lignin content in a plant. The disclosure also provides methods of producing bioproducts using the genetically modified plants of the instant disclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: UT-BATTELLE, LLC
    Inventors: Meng Xie, Jin-Gui Chen, Lee E. Gunter, Sara S. Jawdy, Wellington Muchero, Gerald Tuskan, Jin Zhang
  • Patent number: 11466294
    Abstract: Supplemented mixotrophic method. A mixotrophic fermentation method is disclosed including providing a naturally acetogenic organism; providing a fermentation medium comprising a carbon source and a supplemented non-sugar reductant; and culturing the organism in the fermentation medium, where both the carbon source and the non-sugar reductant are metabolized and a fermentation broth is formed, which contains at least one carbon-containing bioproduct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: SUPERBREWED FOOD INC.
    Inventors: Bryan Patrick Tracy, Shawn William Jones, Aharon M. Eyal
  • Patent number: 11427839
    Abstract: Methods of and system for growing and maintaining an optimized/ideal active yeast solution in the yeast tank and fermenter tank during the fermentation filling cycle are provided. A new yeast stage tank is used between the yeast tank and the fermenter tank allowing yeast to rapidly produce a huge amount of active young yeast cells for a fermenter during the filling period. A measurable and useful controlling factor, % DT/% Yeast by weight ratio (or “food” to yeast ratio), is used (e.g., % DT=glucose), which offers information on the health status of the yeast. The controlling factor is used to control the status of the yeast throughout the entire process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Lee Tech LLC
    Inventor: Chie Ying Lee
  • Patent number: 11236295
    Abstract: The present invention consist of an aroma recovery system in an installation with a plurality of fermentation vats for preparing beverages such as white wine, red wine, beers and juices to apply a method of recovering aroma from said fermentation vats; said system comprises at least one connection system, and at least one aroma recovery equipment, wherein said connection system comprises control means such a logic controller (PLC). It is also provided a multiple connection system for connecting said plurality of fermentation vats and said aroma recovery equipment by automatic valves and a method of recovering aroma from fermentation vats of a beverage such as, for example, white wine, red wine, beer and juices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignees: PONTIFICIA UNIVERSIDAD CATÓLICA DE CHILE, SOCIEDAD ANÓNIMA VIÑA SANTA RITA
    Inventors: Eduardo Esteban Agosín Trumper, José Ricardo Pérez Correa, Marianna Celeste Delgado Gómez, Chloé Capitaine, Álvaro Javier Lezaeta Valenzuela, Eduardo Andrés Alemparte Benavente, José Miguel Benavente Pereira, Jorge Alberto Heiremans Bunster
  • Patent number: 11214487
    Abstract: Apparatuses for gasifying glycerol using solar energy, system including the apparatuses, and methods of using the apparatuses are provided. The apparatuses may include a concentrated solar dish comprising an opening and a gasifying reactor comprising a chamber. An entrance of the chamber may be aligned to the opening. The apparatuses may also include a thermal insulator disposed on outer surfaces of the concentrated solar dish and the gasifying reactor and a pipe in the thermal insulator. The pipe may be configured to deliver glycerol into the chamber of the gasifying reactor in the form of atomized mist. The glycerol may be delivered to a portion of the chamber adjacent the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Khalifa University of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Isam Janajreh, Manar Al Mazrouei, Mohammed Noorul Hussain
  • Patent number: 11174472
    Abstract: The present invention relates to alpha-amylase variants. The present invention also relates to polynucleotides encoding the variants; nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides; and methods of using the variants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: Novozymes A/S
    Inventors: Carsten Andersen, Signe E. Larsen, Esben P. Friis, Peter Kamp Hansen, Henrik Friis-Madsen, Anders Viksoee-Nielsen, Pernille O. Micheelsen
  • Patent number: 11104920
    Abstract: Methods for the recovery of lipids, sugars, and proteins from microbial biomass by enzymatic digestion are disclosed. The methods involve treating microalgae with a fungal acid protease, or with a mixture of at least one protease and at least one amylase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: The University of Toledo
    Inventors: Agasteswar Vadlamani, Patricia A. Relue, Sridhar Viamajala, Heng Shao, Sasidhar Varanasi
  • Patent number: 10752924
    Abstract: Methods for the recovery of lipids, sugars, and proteins from microbial biomass by enzymatic digestion are disclosed. The methods involve treating microalgae with a fungal acid protease, or with a mixture of at least one protease and at least one amylase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: The University of Toledo
    Inventors: Agasteswar K. Vadlamani, Patricia Relue, Sridhar Viamajala, Heng Shao, Sasidhar Varanasi
  • Patent number: 10699406
    Abstract: A method of determining a plant's biomass includes three steps, namely establishing an X-ray photograph of the plant, establishing an absorption characteristic of the plant in an X-ray photograph, and determining the plant's biomass by means of the absorption characteristic of the plant. Said determining is based on a predetermined relation between a reference absorption characteristic and a reference biomass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Stefan Gerth, Norman Uhlmann, Joelle Claussen
  • Patent number: 10584359
    Abstract: Disclosed is a genetically recombinant Saccharomyces cerevisiae useful for degrading and utilizing kitchen wastes. Genes encoding ?-amylase (AMY), glucoamylase (GA) and acid protease (AP) were introduced into the genetically recombinant Saccharomyces cerevisiae using a Saccharomyces cerevisiae multi-gene co-expression vector and successfully expressed and secreted. The Saccharomyces cerevisiae so obtained are capable of secreting amylases and protease to degrade the starch and proteins in kitchen wastes to produce carbon and nitrogen sources such as glucose, polypeptides and amino acids, allowing fermentation into ethanol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: Guangdong Recyclean Low-Carbon Technology
    Inventors: Zehuan Liu, Long Fang, Kai Yan, Xiaolong Kang, Yangyang Zheng, Renhuai Liu, Jianghai Lin, Wenjuan Xiao, Jingbo Li, Yingxue Gong
  • Patent number: 10407698
    Abstract: The present invention relates to processes of producing a fermentation product from readily fermentable sugar-material in a fermentation vat comprising a fermentation medium, comprising: feeding the readily fermentable sugar-material into the fermentation vat comprising a slurry of fermenting organism; fermenting the readily fermentable sugar material into a desired fermentation product, wherein protease is added during or after feeding of the readily fermentable sugar-material into fermentation vat or during fermentation of the readily fermentable sugar-material into the desired fermentation product. The invention also related to the use of protease for reducing foaming in the fermentation yells generating by the fermenting organism during fermentation of the readily fermentable sugar-material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: NOVOZYMES A/S
    Inventors: Felipe Senne de Oliveira Lino, Thiago O. Basso, Soren Nymand-Grarup, Camila do Nascimento
  • Patent number: 10344342
    Abstract: A method of producing a saccharified solution, in which saccharified slurry is obtained by hydrothermally treating cellulosic biomass slurry in a supercritical state or a subcritical state by a continuous reactor. The method reduces the risk of a pressure reducing valve becoming clogged when the high-temperature and high-pressure slurry is flash-evaporated after being hydrothermally treated. Also provides an apparatus for producing a saccharified solution and a continuous reactor. At the time of hydrothermally treating the cellulosic biomass slurry by the continuous reactor continuously, the slurry is intensely stirred in a front part of the continuous reactor, and stirred in a rear part of the continuous reactor by a stirring device with low propelling force, such that the plug flow in the axial direction is kept while the slurry is being uniformly mixed with respect to the cross section perpendicular to the mixing axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiromasa Kusuda, Noriaki Izumi, Hironori Tajiri, Shoji Tsujita, Masaki Tsuzawa
  • Patent number: 10280437
    Abstract: A method for producing ethanol, which is a method for producing ethanol from a saccharide obtained from biomass, includes a step of adding an additive solution containing at least acetic acid, formic acid, furfural, and hydroxymethylfurfural to the saccharide to prepare a mixed solution containing the saccharide and the additive solution, and a step of adding a microorganism to the mixed solution to ferment the saccharide using the microorganism, thereby producing ethanol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: JGC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Makoto Ikeo, Shohei Okino
  • Patent number: 10190086
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and systems of pitching yeast to fermentation reactors. More particularly, the present invention involves pitching yeast from one fermentation tank to at least one additional fermentation tank. Advantageously, yeast can be continuously pitched from fermentor to fermentor for as long as practically desirable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: POET Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Neelakantam V. Narendranath, Stephen M. Lewis, Neil D. Anderson
  • Patent number: 10066217
    Abstract: Mutant thermophilic organisms that consume a variety of biomass derived substrates are disclosed herein. Strains of Thermoanaerobacterium saccharolyticum with acetate kinase and phosphotransacetylase expression eliminated are disclosed herein. Further, strain ALK1 has been engineered by site directed homologous recombination to knockout both acetic acid and lactic acid production. Continuous culture involving a substrate concentration challenge lead to evolution of ALK1, and formation of a more robust strain designated ALK2. The organisms may be utilized for example in thermophilic SSF and SSCF reactions performed at temperatures that are optimal for cellulase activity to produce near theoretical ethanol yields without expressing pyruvate decarboxylase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: THE TRUSTEES OF DARTMOUTH COLLEGE
    Inventors: Arthur Josephus Shaw, IV, Sunil G. Desai, Lee R. Lynd, Kara Podkaminer, John Bardsley, David Anthony Hogsett
  • Patent number: 9961921
    Abstract: Edible residues of ethanol production, e.g., distillers grains and solubles, are produced that are low in, or substantially free from, antibiotic residues. Antibiotics or bacteria present in edible residues resulting from ethanol production are inactivated by irradiating the edible residues.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Xyleco, Inc.
    Inventor: Marshall Medoff
  • Patent number: 9879296
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preparing tagatose from residue after extracting coffee, comprising: obtaining a hydrolysate by hydrolyzing residue after extracting coffee into acid; obtaining a hydrolysate refined by decolorization and ion-refining the obtained hydrolysate; and obtaining tagatose by isomerizing the refined hydrolysate to an arabinose isomerase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: CJ CHEILJEDANG CORPORATION
    Inventors: Young Mi Lee, Seong Bo Kim, Min Hae Kim, Sung Jae Yang, Seung Won Park
  • Patent number: 9822382
    Abstract: A process for making ethanol by fermentation comprises the steps fermenting a mash comprising a fermentable sugar with a yeast to form a fermented mash comprising ethanol, separating a yeast concentrate from the fermentation mash, adding a mineral acid to the yeast concentrate to provide an acidified yeast concentrate having a pH between 1.8 and 3.0, adding a peroxycarboxylic acid to the acidified yeast concentrate in an amount of from 5 to 80 ppm by weight to provide a treated yeast concentrate, and fermenting a mash comprising a fermentable sugar with addition of treated yeast concentrate to form a fermented mash comprising ethanol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Evonik Degussa GmbH
    Inventor: Regina Tie Kawai Shikishima
  • Patent number: 9689003
    Abstract: A dry grind ethanol production process and system with front end milling method is provided for improving alcohol and/or by-product yields, such as oil and/or protein yields. In one example, the process includes grinding corn kernels into particles then mixing the corn particles with a liquid to produce a slurry including oil, protein, starch, fiber, germ, and grit. Thereafter, the slurry is subjected to a front end milling method, which includes separating the slurry into a solids portion, including fiber, grit, and germ, and a liquid portion, including oil, protein, and starch, then milling the separated solids portion to reduce the size of the germ and grit and release bound starch, oil, and protein from the solids portion. The starch is converted to sugar, and alcohol is produced therefrom then recovered. Also, the fiber can be separated and recovered. Oil and protein may be separated and recovered as well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Lee Tech LLC
    Inventor: Chie Ying Lee
  • Patent number: 9677036
    Abstract: An ethanol production facility is provided for processing a plurality of fermentable feedstock materials into an ethanol end product through fermentation and distillation. The facility includes a fermenting stage for converting the plurality of fermentable feedstocks into an alcohol mixture including ethanol and water, and a distillation stage. The distillation stage distills the low concentration alcohol mixture into a high concentration alcohol distillate. A kernel feedstock processing stage is receives and processes a kernel containing feedstock, and includes a receiving station for receiving the kernel containing feedstock. A storage station is provided for storing the kernel based feedstock, and a mill is provided for milling the kernel based feedstock into a flour based feedstock. A conveyor is provided for conveying the milled floor based feedstock to the fermenting stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: CENTRAL INDIANA ETHANOL, LLC
    Inventors: Gary Drook, Eric Utterback, Ryan H Drook, Randy Baer, Jeff Harts, Jason Drook
  • Patent number: 9670444
    Abstract: An ethanol production facility is provided for processing a plurality of fermentable feedstock materials into an ethanol end product through fermentation and distillation. The facility includes a fermenting stage for converting the plurality of fermentable feedstocks into an alcohol mixture including ethanol and water, and a distillation stage. The distillation stage distills the low concentration alcohol mixture into a high concentration alcohol distillate. A kernel feedstock processing stage is receives and processes a kernel containing feedstock, and includes a receiving station for receiving the kernel containing feedstock. A storage station is provided for storing the kernel based feedstock, and a mill is provided for milling the kernel based feedstock into a flour based feedstock. A conveyor is provided for conveying the milled floor based feedstock to the fermenting stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Central Indiana Ethanol, LLC
    Inventors: Gary Drook, Eric Utterback, Ryan H Drook, Randy Baer, Jeff Harts, Jason Drook
  • Patent number: 9617565
    Abstract: [Problem] To provide an alcoholic fermentation yeast having resistance to limonene, which is a fermentation inhibitor, and a method for producing ethanol using the alcoholic fermentation yeast. [Solution] An alcoholic fermentation yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Deposition No. NITE BP-890), which has resistance to limonene and can grow in the presence of limonene at a concentration of 0.1-0.5 wt %, and a method for producing ethanol using the alcoholic fermentation yeast.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignees: NIPPON STEEL & SUMIKIN ENGINEERING CO., LTD., EHIME PREFECTURE
    Inventors: Natsuki Maekawa, Yasuhiko Katoh, Takafumi Kiuchi, Praneetrattananon Suthasinee, Shinji Okamoto, Kazuko Hirayama, Syunsuke Miyaoka, Hideaki Tadanobu, Masahiko Sudo
  • Patent number: 9593348
    Abstract: A method for controlling a fermentation process includes injecting a mash into a fermenter and injecting an enzymatic additive into the fermenter on a continuous basis. The enzymatic additive is injected on a continuous basis during at least two time periods: during a batch fill and after the batch fill. The method may be used to control the fermentation processes of one or more fermenters operating in parallel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: ROCKWELL AUTOMATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Srinivas Budaraju, James F. Bartee
  • Patent number: 9528104
    Abstract: Methods and systems for the isomerization and fermentation of xylose and hexose sugars using an immobilized enzyme system capable of sustaining two different pH microenvironments in a single vessel are disclosed. Bilayer particles are dispersed in a mixture comprising an ionic borate source and xylose. The bilayer particles have a first region with a first enzymatic activity comprising xylose isomerase and a pH of 6 or above, and a second region having a second enzymatic activity at an acidic pH.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: The University of Toledo
    Inventors: Sasidhar Varanasi, Kripa Rao, Patricia Ann Relue, Dawei Yuan
  • Patent number: 9522991
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cellulose solution manufacturing method including: performing an ozonation treatment to bring a cellulose-containing material and ozone into contact with each other; and performing an alkali treatment to bring the obtained treated material and an alkali aqueous solution into contact with each other, thereby dissolving at least cellulose in the cellulose-containing material brought into contact with the ozone in the alkali aqueous solution. According to the invention, it is possible to provide a method of manufacturing a cellulose solution in which cellulose can be dissolved in a more simple manner, a method of manufacturing a cellulose precipitate in which cellulose can be recovered from the cellulose solution, and a method of saccharifying cellulose which uses the cellulose precipitate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignees: EHIME PREFECTURAL GOVERNMENT, SEKISUI CHEMICAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kenji Nakamura, Seiji Higaki, Manami Yatsuzuka, Kazuo Doyama, Kazuyoshi Iwane, Masaki Takao
  • Patent number: 9476068
    Abstract: A process is disclosed for producing a feed co-product by ethanol fermentation of plant matter comprising starch and another polysaccharide selected from the group consisting of hemicellulose and cellulose. The process comprises: (i) carrying out a primary fermentation process, distilling the primary fermentation mixture to form a primary feed co-product derived from the fermentation of the primary fermentation mixture and a primary distillate product comprising ethanol and (ii) carrying out a secondary fermentation process and distilling the secondary fermentation mixture to form the modified feed co-product and a secondary distillate product comprising ethanol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Abengoa Bioenergy New Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Iñaki Mielgo, Patrick Mulvihill
  • Patent number: 9206449
    Abstract: A method of biologically producing p-hydroxybenzoic acid, and a method for producing p-hydroxybenzoic acid from lignin through chemical and biological conversion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Won Jae Choi, Jong Won Byun, Jin Ho Ahn, Young Wan Ha, Joo-Hyun Seo
  • Patent number: 9194012
    Abstract: A method for producing sugars from lignocellulosic biomass is provided. Lignocellulosic biomass is composed of lignocellulosic fibers which are hollow and primarily contain cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin. Lignin is concentrated in the outer fiber wall and glues the fibers into bundles, but the inner fiber wall has a much lower concentration of lignin and has more easily accessible cellulose and hemicellulose. This method uses vacuum infusion to infuse homogeneous reagents into the lumen (hollow center) of lignocellulosic fibers to hydrolyze the hemicellulose and cellulose to produce sugars and oligomers, and then uses cycles of vacuum pressure to pump these homogeneous reagents and sugars and oligomers into and out of the lumen. Some types of reagents are dilute acids, cellulase enzymes, hemicellulase enzymes, Fenton or Fenton-like reagents, and hydrogen peroxide. These reagents are homogenized by mixing the reagents with process water using turbulent mixing to produce a homogeneous reagent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Inventor: Edward Brian Hamrick
  • Patent number: 9109235
    Abstract: The present invention provides enriched polynucleotides, and enriched polypeptides having pectinase activity. The present invention also includes methods of using the polynucleotides and polypeptides described herein. For instance, the methods include producing metabolic product, such as ethanol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: University of Georgia Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventor: Joy Bethune Peterson
  • Patent number: 9102856
    Abstract: An improved method of conducting the pre-soaking step involving pre-soaking the ligno-cellulosic biomass in a liquid (water) at a temperature in the range of between 100° C. to 150° C. prior to soaking at higher temperatures. This material can then be soaked and soaked liquid filtered by nano-filtration. When nano-filtration is used, the pre-soak temperature can be in the range of 10° C. to 150° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: Beta Renewables, S.p.A.
    Inventors: Francesco Cherchi, Piero Ottonello, Simone Ferrero, Paolo Torre, Danilo De Faveri, Beatriz Rivas Torres, Liliane Tonte Rensi, Daniele Riva, Federica Bosio
  • Publication number: 20150147791
    Abstract: The engineering of a pathway converting CH4 to acetate and eventually to liquid fuels is disclosed. The engineered pathway involves an engineered reversal of the natural pathway for acetate conversion to CH4 by microbes and coupling the engineered pathway to existing and future technologies for microbial or chemical conversion of acetate to liquid fuels. In one aspect, methods for producing modified pathways and/or microbes are provided. In another aspect engineered microbes, including Methanosarcina acetivorans, that incorporate the engineered pathway are provided, which can mediate conversion of CH4 to acetate for ultimate conversion to liquid fuels. In a further aspect, specific modifications to the components of the pathway are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2014
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Inventors: James Gregory Ferry, Costas D. Maranas, Thomas Keith Wood
  • Publication number: 20150147786
    Abstract: A process for mechanical destructuring of starch-based biomass was developed that makes use of a short application of high compression, impact, and shearing forces. The biomass may be destructured using a specific energy input that is less than 40% of the total combustible energy of the biomass. The destructured starch-based biomass, with or without saccharification and/or in-feed glycosyl hydrolase enzymes, may be used in feed applications. The destructured starch-based may saccharified to produce syrups and fermentable sugars, and for production of products including ethanol using a biocatalyst.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2014
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Inventors: KATHLEEN A CLARKSON, F Glenn Gallagher, Aaron Perelman, Luis Fernando Romero Millan, Vivek Sharma, Jayarama K. Shetty, Daniel A. Slanac, Paula Johanna Maria Teunissen
  • Patent number: 9040279
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a Bacillus subtilis alpha-amylase (AmyE) or its variants thereof. AmyE or its variants thereof may be used to more efficiently produce fermentable sugars from starch. Also disclosed are a composition comprising a glucoamylase and AmyE or variant thereof and a method of processing starch utilizing the described enzyme composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: DANISCO US INC.
    Inventors: Suzanne Breneman, Sung Ho Lee, Vivek Sharma, Jayarama K. Shetty
  • Patent number: 9040278
    Abstract: An ?-amylase from Bacillus subtilis (AmyE) produces significant amounts of glucose from various carbohydrate substrates, including vegetable starch, maltoheptaose, and maltotriose. Among other things, this advantageous property allows AmyE or variants thereof to be used in a saccharification reaction having a reduced or eliminated requirement for glucoamylase. The reduction or elimination of the glucoamylase requirement significantly improves the efficiency of the production of ethanol or high fructose corn syrup, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: DANISCO US INC.
    Inventors: Luis G. Cascao-Pereira, Regina Chin, William A. Cuevas, David A. Estell, Sang-Kyu Lee, Michael J. Pepsin, Scott D. Power, Sandra W. Ramer, Carol A. Requadt, Andrew Shaw, Amr R. Toppozada, Louise Wallace
  • Publication number: 20150140606
    Abstract: A method of producing a sugar liquid from cellulose-containing biomass includes (1) to (4): (1) subjecting a cellulose-containing biomass to a dilute sulfuric acid treatment and thereafter separating the treated cellulose-containing biomass into a dilute sulfuric acid-treated liquid and a cellulose-containing solid content; (2) adding a cellulase to the cellulose-containing solid content to hydrolyze the cellulose and thereafter obtaining a sugar liquid; (3) filtering the dilute sulfuric acid-treated liquid through a nanofiltration membrane at pH 2.5 or lower to thereby separate a sugar concentrated liquid as a retentate and at the same time recover a sulfuric acid aqueous solution as a permeate; and (4) reusing the whole amount or a part of the sulfuric acid aqueous solution obtained in (3) in the dilute sulfuric acid treatment in (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2013
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventors: Atsushi Minamino, Hiroyuki Kurihara, Katsushige Yamada
  • Publication number: 20150140612
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for increasing hydrolysis of a pretreated cellulosic material, comprising subjecting the pretreated cellulosic material to a cellulolytic enzyme composition; a polypeptide having cellulolytic enhancing activity; a Peroxidase; and a nonionic surfactant and/or cationic surfactant, at conditions suitable for hydrolyzing the pretreated lignocellulosic material. The invention also relates to processes for producing a fermentation product comprising a hydrolysis step of the invention and a composition suitable for use in a method of the invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2013
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventors: Ye Chen, Jiyin Liu, Terry Green, Mark V. Stevens, Hui Xu
  • Publication number: 20150140629
    Abstract: The invention relates to an alcoholic fermentation process in the presence of one or more high alcohol tolerant yeast and one or more maltotriose positive yeast. The process of the present invention can be a fermentation process for the production of ethanol, for the production of beer, for the production of wine and the like, in a preferred embodiment, the present invention relates to a process for the production of ethanol in the presence of distiller's yeast and baker's yeast.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Applicant: Cargill, Incorporated
    Inventors: Jean-Claude Marie Pierre De Troostembergh, Bernhard Horbach, Michael Josef Christian Kruse, Nicolas Andre Albert Meurens
  • Publication number: 20150139977
    Abstract: The invention relates to enzymes having xylanase, mannanase and/or glucanase activity, e.g., catalyzing hydrolysis of internal ?-1,4-xylosidic linkages or endo-?-1,4-glucanase linkages; and/or degrading a linear polysaccharide beta-1,4-xylan into xylose. Thus, the invention provides methods and processes for breaking down hemicellulose, which is a major component of the cell wall of plants, including methods and processes for hydrolyzing hemicelluloses in any plant or wood or wood product, wood waste, paper pulp, paper product or paper waste or byproduct. In addition, methods of designing new xylanases, mannanases and/or glucanases and methods of use thereof are also provided. The xylanases, mannanases and/or glucanases have increased activity and stability at increased pH and temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2014
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventors: David Weiner, David Blum, Alexander Varvak, Shaun Healey, Kristine Chang, Geoff Hazlewood, Thomas Todaro, Grace Desantis, Hwai Chang, Connie Jo Hansen, Scott W. Beaver, Thomas Woodward, Charles Hancock
  • Patent number: 9034608
    Abstract: The invention relates to a polypeptide having a mutation at one or more position corresponding to T219 of SEQ ID NO: 55, wherein the polypeptide has at least 50% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO: 55, and wherein the polypeptide has permease activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: DSM IP ASSETS, B.V.
    Inventors: Hendrik Wouter Wisselink, Antonius Jeroen Adriaan Van Maris, Jacobus Thomas Pronk, Paul Klaassen, Rene Marcel De Jong
  • Publication number: 20150135369
    Abstract: Provided herein are transgenic plants that include increased expression of a coding region encoding a PAE poly-peptide compared to a control plant. In one embodiment, a transgenic plant includes a phenotype of decreased recalcitrance, increased growth, or the combination thereof. Also provided herein are methods for generating transgenic plants, and methods for using transgenic plants. Examples of methods for using transgenic plants include, for instance, processing a transgenic plant described herein to result in a processed pulp, and exposing a plant material obtained from a plant described herein to conditions suitable for the production of a metabolic product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventors: Debra A. Mohnen, Ajaya K. Biswal